1 Corinthians 14
14
Of speaking with tongues
1I told you to desire the greatest gifts, and that is why I bid you earnestly to pursue love, but of those other spiritual things of which I have spoken, in my opinion the best, the most useful, is prophecy or preaching. 2-4And why? Because it instructs and builds and strengthens. To utter a spiritual language known only to God is to hold converse indeed with God, to allow the Spirit itself to utter its own mysteries, and that is good. 5I would have you all to speak with such tongues as that; but this spiritual language, the tongue of God, needs interpretation; and through that interpretation man is blessed with something that comforts, consoles, and builds him up. 6-7Prophecy does this, interpreting to others the language of heaven, and building the Church on earth. Therefore is it a greater gift to prophesy than to speak the new tongues of the Spirit, for such words make the Church. The new tongues require interpretation. I shall be no help to you unless I reveal something to you, increase your knowledge of things divine, and act as a prophet and teacher. All tongues and languages and voices on earth have meaning. 8Even the trumpet, made of brass merely, can summon men to battle, the flute and the pipe can move men most variously. But what if their sounds be not understood? What if their stops and notes be so uncertainly handled that there is no recognition of their meaning? Who will arm himself then for the fray? 9-10And of the different languages which men talk, there is not one which is without meaning and interpretation. We call those “foreign” tongues which we cannot understand, and them that speak them “foreigners.” So it is with the language of heaven, the tongue that the Spirit speaks with spiritual utterings.
To speak with the understanding is of first importance
11It sounds strange and barbarous in the ears of those who do not understand it. It needs interpretation, and for those who understand it not, you do but speak into the air, not into their minds. 12-13If you be anxious and desirous for proofs of your spirituality, for the gifts and wonders of the Spirit and its activities, then let this desire for an overflowing measure of it in your hearts end always in the furthering of that great spiritual goal, the aim, as I have said, of all the operations of the Spirit, the building up of the Church, of the infinite body of the Christ. 14To that end pray and sing, bless and give thanks. 15If I pray with the mind as well as the Spirit, and sing with understanding as well as ecstasy, and interpret to the mind and consciousness the tongue of the Spirit which I utter, then is that great purpose fulfilled. 16Then will those who hearken to your blessing and giving of thanks say Amen to it. For the demands of the understanding have been fulfilled. 17But if you give thanks with spiritual voices only, in a language unknown to those who fill the place of the humble listeners and the congregation, however well you do it, the church is not fulfilled and is not edified. 18My brethren, this language of the Spirit utters itself richly in me, and in more frequent and fuller tones than in all of you, 19yet would I rather speak five words with the understanding that can help my brother than ten thousand in a language which he does not know. 20My brethren, you have become as little children in this world, but be not children in understanding, but children only in evil. This speaking with tongues, you say, is a sign, a miracle. 21Yes, God says, “With other lips and a strange tongue will I speak to this people, and yet will they not hearken to me.” (Is. 28: 11-12) 22They are a sign to those who have no faith, and a sign that is not accepted. 23In your own midst, when the whole church is gathered together as one, what need then of such strange and startling signs? 24For then are heard the voices of understanding that build the perfect church, psalm, and teaching, revelation, tongues and their interpretation; and when one from without enters this reasonable temple of worship, 25the thoughts of his own heart are laid bare to him, he is convicted and judged and made to cry out in his own soul, “surely God is in you” (Is. 45:14).
The need for orderliness
26To this great aim let all your worship tend; let psalm, teaching, revelation, tongues and their interpretation be subject to order and arrangement, and so help to build the church. 27Let not more than two or three at most speak with tongues simultaneously, and let these utterances of the Spirit invariably be interpreted and let them not be too long. 28Without interpretation there must be no speaking with tongues. Let him who feels this ability commune with himself and with God, and be silent in his ecstasy, unless he can make his meaning clear. 29Let not more than two or three members speak as prophets voicing the divine, 30and let the rest listen in silence, and distinguish carefully the truth of the words spoken; and where one or other is moved by revelation to speak, give place to him and let the first be silent. 31-32For everyone of you, and not a few only, is able to prophesy, and to do this for the good of all, for there is nothing unruly in the spirit of prophecy. It is subject to him who has the understanding of it, 33and in the churches of God all is order and peace. There is no disorder in the divine being. 34Therefore also the women are not to speak in your assemblies. This is the tradition of the law, and it must be still observed. You may think otherwise, you may even be doing otherwise in your churches. But it is forbidden. 35-38Are you the originators and only recipients of the Gospel? Did it not come first to me, and through me to you? And I tell you that the Lord has given a commandment about these things. Perhaps you do not understand it or recognise it? Then you show yourselves to be without the pale of God’s ruling and guidance. Woman can learn and question and speak at home, not in public now. 39Then desire this gift of teaching and prophecy above all others, and allow the speaking with tongues, 40but let everything be done in an orderly and rational manner.
Currently Selected:
1 Corinthians 14: GWC
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Translated in 1916, published in 1937.
First Letter from Small Man to the Sacred Family in Village of Pleasure 14
14
GUIDANCE FOR SPIRITUAL GIFTINGS
1Above all other things, make love your aim. Keep the desire for spiritual gifts burning in your hearts, but most of all for the gift of prophecy. 2Prophesying is better than speaking in unknown languages, because the ones who speak in unknown languages do not speak to human beings, but to the Great Spirit. No one understands them, for they speak mysteries in the Spirit.
3On the other hand, the ones who prophesy speak to human beings in a language they understand. They speak words that give strength, courage, and comfort. 4The ones who speak in unknown languages give strength only to themselves, but those who prophesy give strength to the whole sacred family gathering.
5It is my desire that all of you would speak in unknown languages, and even more that you would prophesy. Now, the ones who prophesy do a greater thing than the ones who speak in unknown languages, unless someone explains the meaning of what is said. Then the sacred family would be strengthened.
6So then, my sacred family members, what if I came to you speaking only in unknown languages? What good would it do you? For unless my words reveal something new, or give deeper understanding, or speak a prophecy, or bring forth a teaching, you will learn nothing.
7Some things such as drums or flutes, even though they have no human life, must make sounds that have the right beats or tones, or no one will know what they are hearing. 8If an eagle bone whistle#14:8 Lit. trumpet, or in Hebrew shofar, meaning “ram’s horn” is not sounded in the right way, who will prepare for battle? 9In the same manner, if you speak in an unknown language, how will the hearers know what is being said? The sound of your voice will be lost in the wind. 10A great number of languages are spoken throughout this world, and all tribes understand their own language. 11If I do not speak the language of a tribe, they will not know my language and I will not know theirs. Our languages will sound strange to each other.
12Here is what I am saying to you: since you have such a strong desire for spiritual powers, desire those powers that will help the sacred family grow stronger. 13So the one who speaks in an unknown language should pray for the power to interpret its meaning for others.
14Now, if I pray in an unknown language, I am praying with my spirit and not in a language my mind understands. 15So what is the right thing to do? I will pray with my spirit and also with my mind. In the same manner, I will sing with my spirit in unknown words and with words I understand. 16So then, if you only give thanks in an unknown language, speaking with your spirit, then how could someone who does not understand say “Aho! May it be so” at your prayer of giving thanks? 17For you may be praying in a good way, but it does not help others to grow spiritually strong.
18I give thanks to the Great Spirit that I speak in unknown languages more than any of you. 19But at our sacred family gatherings it would be better for me to speak five words of instruction that all can understand than to speak ten thousand words in an unknown language.
20My sacred family members, do not think in childish ways. In the ways of evil be as innocent as a baby in a cradleboard, but in your understanding of spiritual things be as wise as an elder.
21It has been written down in our Sacred Teachings, “I will speak to my people through the mouths of people with strange languages,” says our Honored Chief, “but even so my people will not hear me.”
22This means that unknown languages are a sign for how Creator speaks to the ones who do not want to hear him,#14:22 Lit. the ones who do not believe but prophecy is a sign for those who want to hear what the Great Spirit is saying.#14:22 Lit. for those who believe
23So then, if everyone at a gathering of the sacred family began to speak in unknown languages, and if someone came to the gathering who knew nothing about these things or who did not walk in our ways, would they not think you had lost your minds? 24But on the other hand, if everyone prophesied, the secrets hidden in their hearts would be made known, and they would clearly see how their broken ways will bring them to a bad end. 25They would then humble themselves before Creator and tell everyone that the Great Spirit truly walks among you.
GUIDANCE FOR SACRED GATHERINGS
26So, my sacred family members, what is the path forward? When you gather for ceremony, each one has a gift to share. Some may sing sacred songs, and others might bring a teaching or tell a story. Some might share something new that has been revealed to them, while others may speak in an unknown language and then tell the meaning of it. All these things must be done in a good way to help others grow strong.
27Only two or three should speak in unknown languages. Let each of them speak, one at a time. Then someone must interpret the meaning of what has been said. 28If no one can interpret, let the speakers of unknown languages remain silent during the sacred gathering and speak quietly in their hearts to the Great Spirit.
29 In the same manner, only two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh what has been said. 30But if anything is revealed by the Spirit to another who is seated in the circle, the first should stop speaking and give way to the other. 31The prophets should speak one at a time, so that all may learn and find comfort in their words. 32Prophets have power over their own spirits, 33for disorder and confusion do not come from Creator, for he is the Great Spirit of peace and harmony. This is the way these things are to be done wherever Creator’s holy people come together at our sacred family gatherings.
GUIDANCE FOR WOMEN IN THE SACRED GATHERING
34During our sacred gatherings wives should remain silent, for they are not permitted to speak out of place. They should remain under the guidance of their husbands, as our Sacred Teachings tell us. 35So then, if they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is a shameful thing for a married woman to speak out of place during our sacred gatherings.
36What are you saying to me? Did the message of the Great Spirit come first from you who gather in Village of Pleasure (Corinth)? Are you the only ones whom Creator has entrusted with his message? 37If anyone among you thinks of himself as a prophet, or thinks of himself to be spiritual, he should be the first to see that my instructions come from our Honored Chief. 38Any who set aside what I am saying are only showing how ignorant they are.
39I say to you once more, my sacred family members, fan into flame your desire to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in unknown languages. 40Let everything be done with respect, in a good and orderly manner.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Copyright ©2023 InterVarsity Press